The $500 Check — page 285: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

f 266 THE $500 CHECK. ‘“He went to New York.” ‘* Is he at work there ?”’ ‘‘ No, he is travelling.”’ ‘Travelling? What do you mean ?”’ ‘Uncle Jacob has sent him off on some mission. He is at Harrisburg, I believe.’’ ‘That is very strange!’’ remarked the squire, arching his eyebrows. ‘‘ What possi- ble mission can Jacob have for the boy ?’’ ‘‘He doesn’t write particulars; but his expenses are paid.’’ ‘*T don’t see how Jacob Marlowe, with his paltry twelve dollars a week, can make such arrangements.”’ “Nor I; but probably Uncle Jacob has interested his employer in Bert.’’ ‘‘It may be so, but I think it very unwise to send off a boy by himself. What judgment has he, or what can he do ?’’ ‘‘T don’t very well know. He seems to en- joy the trip.’’ ‘*Of course ; but it will spoil him for solid work. He had better have stayed at home.’’ ‘*What encouragement was there for him to stay in Lakeville? If you had not discharged (E(@) AA C JOO cS